NAILS FIVE: BUTTER LONDON HOLIDAY CUTICLE OIL

If you read a previous nail post of mine you've seen my pros and cons for the Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream.  This product has no such problems.  In fact, the only con is the packaging (glass) doesn't necessarily make this little wonder handbag/travel friendly.

This purchase can be 100% blamed on Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup.  She mentioned that it smelled like a tropical vacation and I was instantly needing this.  I purchased it, but didn't use it for a while and boy do I regret that now.  This little wonder smells like pineapples and coconuts and is the perfect cuticle oil. 

The little brush keeps you from getting too much and it sinks in and moisturizes without leaving your hands greasy.  There's really nothing else I could ask from Butter London except a little mini purse version.  

SKINCARE NINE: MURAD ESSENTIAL-C TONER

Murad is a brand that I thought I would like.  Seems well researched and the product lines seem easy enough.  Their acne fighting line also seems to be quite well received in the beauty community and, in my opinion, getting skincare for acne prone skin seems to be a lot tougher than skincare for dry or normal skin.  

So, imagine my surprise when I bought this simple little toner from Murad and hated it.  I mean, loathed.  I tried to use it.  I didn't notice that it hurt my skin at all but the smell was obnoxious.  Just an extremely strong chemical smell.  I am overly sensitive to smells so something that bothers me may not bother anyone else so I determined to persevere.  

My boyfriend came off tour to visit for two nights and when I had done my evening skin regimen he kissed my cheek and exclaimed, "I hate the way your face smells!"  I knew right then it was over between the Murad Essential-C Toner and I and the next day I promptly exchanged it at Sephora for another toner that I am much more pleased with.  More on that at a later date.

In short, my advice to you, dear reader, would be that if you aren't seriously in love with chemical scents or simply unable to smell at all to stay far way from this one.  

MAKEUP EIGHT: TARTE OFF THE CUFF PALETTE

Yeah, yeah, I know.  Why am I even posting this?  This was a limited edition palette from Tarte that I got at Sephora at Christmas.  Yes, Christmas.  Three months age.  Yes, limited edition, but I decided to post this for a very specific reason.  You can buy three of these shades as single blushes/bronzers.  The other two aren't available outside of this palette but Tarte has many similar shades in their blush line.

So, first the shades in the collection from left to right:

CRAVE: Warm pink-coral shade

DAZZLED: Warm berry-rose

DARLING: Matte-peach

DOLLFACE: Cool babydoll pink

PARK AVE PRINCESS: Warm golden-brown

Now, Dazzled, Dollface, and Park Ave Princess can all be purchased out of this palette.  All of these colors are gorgeous and if you've never had any experience with Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes let me just say, if you need/want your blush to hang out for the entire day then you gotta get on board with these bad boys.  They are wonderful! 

The only problem is now I want more.  I've got my eye on Tipsy and Achiote.  Oh man, come to Mama!

SKINCARE FIVE: NUDE PROGENIUS TREATMENT OIL

If you know me then you know I love my oil.  Cuticle oil, hair oil, but my heart really belongs to skin oil.  All brands, all kinds.  I love it.  I love what a change it has made in my ridiculously dry skin.

This particular one is the Nude ProGenius.  You pretty much can't go wrong with this oil.  It has, as you can read, Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9 in the oil and this is a bit thicker than other face oils such as the tsubaki oil from Boscia or the argan oil from Josie Maran.  

If you have dryness, sallowness, or you just think your skin could benefit from a major nutrition pick up then I would say try this out!  If you don't want to spend the $39 for a small bottle then the next time you're near Sephora ask for a sample.  Be warned, I think you'll be back to buy it pretty soon.

NAILS FOUR: SALLY HANSEN INSTANT CUTICLE REMOVER

Forever ago Anna of Vivanna Does Makeup fame mentioned/raved about this product from Sally Hansen.  Clearly I'm a lemming and if Anna says it's nice then I must own so I bought it.  Used it once.  Loved the result.  Promised myself I would use regularly and then shoved it in a drawer and ignored it.  This seems to be the common theme of my entire life.

I pulled this out recently to try and make sure I'm using products regularly and not hoarding them until they are expired and of no use to me.  

I don't cut my cuticles.  Seems cutting cuticles can cause more trouble that it's worth.  I simply squirt this product on and allow it to sit for five minutes then I take a nail tool and gently push my cuticles back.  The result is a nail with freshly manicured appearance and no nicks or soreness from cutting the cuticles.  

I purchased this at Wal-Mart, but it's sold in tons of stores here in the US.  If you are the type to give yourself manicures rather than get them I cannot recommend this product enough.  Save yourself the stress and invest.

MAKEUP SEVEN: LOREAL MAGIC NUDE LIQUID POWDER 328 SUN BEIGE

If you watched my "Top 10 Under $10" video then you've already seen this beauty.  If you haven't then you are slacking and should get over to YouTube and watch it!  Anyway, drugstore foundation is kind of my nemesis.  Well, actually foundation in general.  

Here's the thing, my skin is pretty great.  It used to be oily and has gotten dry in recent years, but I've never had particularly sensitive skin and I've never been prone to acne.  Therefore, as long as a foundation doesn't separate on me, in theory, it should work wonderfully.  Screw theory.  If my face doesn't look naturally flawless then I'm not interested.

Enter Loreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder in 328 Sun Beige.  I love this stuff.  It's my skin, but better.  Any small imperfections are covered, but the rest of my skin looks like I'm sans makeup.  I couldn't ask for a better result and the fact that it retails for so cheap is a wonder.  

I've heard this is a drugstore dupe for the Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation.  If so, save yourself some money and just get this bad boy.  He's flawless and you will be too!

MAKEUP SIX: JOSIE MARAN COCONUT WATER CHEEK GELEE POPPY PARADISE

I used to think I hated blush.  Then I loved it a little too much.  Then I discovered cream blush which looked AMAZING on everyone else and absolutely ludicrous on me.  I was beyond frustrated and then this popped up in a YouTube video one day.  Then it kept popping up.  Josie Maran Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise.

For some time I was convinced it wouldn't show up on me and if it did I would hate it the way I disliked all other cream blushes, but this isn't a cream is it?  No.  It isn't.  It's a gelee.  A CHEEK gelee if you want to get all technical.  

This is the smoothest, most wonderful and absolutely gorgeous flattering cheek product I have ever used.  Somehow color payoff is simultaneous wonderful and difficult to over do.  I run my finger in the top, smear on cheeks and #werk all day without having to worry about my blush looking clownish or disappearing on me mid-afternoon.  That, hopefully, excuses the fact that I went back and bought it in Berry Bliss.  

I'm not done yet either. Soon Coral Oasis and Getaway Red are going to be joining the other two.  I just know it.